Take A Walk Towards Good Health

Many people still use walking as a mode of transportation. The Aborigines of Australia are known for their walkabouts, where they would just get up and leave their work to walk through the bush, going from one place to another and back.

Some African tribes also use walking to get from one village to another, as other modes of transportation are rare in these areas. One can’t help but see how lean and fit these people are.

In urban locations, particularly in Europe and North America, walking is no longer the preferred mode of transportation. People would rather use motorized modes of transportation in order to get to their destinations much faster.

With all the air pollution and the stress generated by this fast-paced lifestyle, it’s no wonder that urbanites’ physical and mental health are shaving years off their lives.

Several health and fitness organizations are now promoting walking as a way to get back to good health.

Walking is a form of low-impact aerobic exercise that provides a lot of health benefits. Exercise experts recommend taking at least 10,000 steps per day to get the full health benefits of walking.

A person who walks for at least 30 minutes a day can reduce his risk of such medical conditions as cancer, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, and osteoporosis.

Walking is also good for the mind; it relieves anxiety and depression and can improve one’s memory skills and learning ability. Walking lowers the “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and raises the “good” cholesterol (HDL); it also improves bone health, strengthening the hip bone to prevent fractures.